Villanova fires coach Kyle Neptune after 3 years, no Tournament appearances

PHILADELPHIA>> Villanova fired Kyle Neptune on Saturday after a three-year run where he succeeded Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and failed to ever make the NCAA Tournament.

Neptune went 54-47 overall and 31-29 in the Big East in three seasons with the Wildcats, including a 19-14 record this season. The Wildcats — who won two national championships under Wright — lost to UConn on Thursday night in a Big East Conference Tournament quarterfinal at Madison Square Garden.

Duke, ACC: Flagg available for March Madness

Top-ranked Duke and the Atlantic Coast Conference have informed the NCAA Tournament selection committee that freshman Cooper Flagg will be available for March Madness, NCAA senior vice president for basketball Dan Gavitt said

Flagg sprained his left ankle during Duke’s win against Georgia Tech on Thursday in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Source: 49ers bring back Juszczyk after cutting him

SANTA CLARA, Calif.>> Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is returning to the San Francisco 49ers on a two-year, $8 million contract just days after being cut, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

Rangers’ Jon Gray fractures right wrist after being hit by a line drive

SURPRISE, Ariz.>> Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray fractured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive in a spring training game against Colorado, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters.

Gray left in the fourth inning on Friday after being struck by a 106.4 mph comebacker off the bat of Rockies slugger Michael Toglia.

Gray is coming off an injury-marred 2024 season in which he was 5-6 with a 4.47 ERA.

Padres righty Waldron may miss start of the season

PEORIA, Ariz.>> San Diego Padres right-hander Matt Waldron suffered a mild oblique strain while warming up before a spring training game Friday. He could miss the start of the season.

Dodgers’ Betts dealing with illness in Japan

TOKYO>> Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts said he’s still hopeful that the eight-time All-Star will be available for the team’s first regular season game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome.

Odermatt secures overall and GS titles in race won by teammate Meillard

HAFJELL, Norway>>— Swiss ski star Marco Odermatt didn’t win the race, but he did earn two crystal globes and set a national record in Alpine skiing.

Odermatt finished second behind teammate Loic Meillard in a World Cup giant slalom to formally lock up his fourth straight overall and GS titles.

Nets’ Cam Thomas likely done for the season

NEW YORK>> Cam Thomas, the Brooklyn Nets’ leading scorer, is expected to miss the rest of the season with a strained left hamstring. The Nets said that Thomas was injured in the loss at Chicago on Thursday.

— The Associated Press